A-B Tech’s Basic Law Enforcement Training (BLET) program graduated its Fall 2024 class on Friday. Fourteen graduates scored a 100 percent pass rate on the state licensing exam and are headed to jobs with area law enforcement agencies. After Hurricane Helene disrupted the program, the class was extended by two weeks, including adding Saturdays and longer days.
"They had no extra study time between the end of class and the state exam and still everyone passed," said BLET Director Daryl Fisher. "The word that best describes this class is perseverance. They endured a COVID outbreak and Hurricane Helene’s wrath, and yet they persevered to be successful in pursuit of their dream."
Required for all NC law enforcement officers, BLET is a rigorous program comprised of academics, physical, and skills training, as well as additional modules that emphasize emotional intelligence, cultural diversity, de-escalation, and mental health. “We stress the importance of building rapport with the communities we serve while enforcing the law equally and fairly,” Fisher said.
Awards presented to the graduates included:
- Highest Academic Average: Hunter Lusk
- Highest State Exam Score: Demitri Fiscus
- Most Improved Physical Fitness: Mikaela Waterman
- Top Firearms Average: Demitri Fiscus
- Trailblazer Award: Hunter Lusk
- Best Instructor: Buncombe Co Detective Daniel Barale
The next BLET class begins January 6 and includes 15 new APD officers among 32 students, making it one of the largest classes in recent years, Fisher said.
To learn more, visit Basic Law Enforcement Training Overview or call (828) 398-7900. Prospective students also are invited to schedule tours of the Emergency Services campus at A-B Tech Woodfin.